I definitely try not to get too caught up in putting too much of a gender or age assessment on everything - I've just got to get on with it.

I never, ever grew up as a young woman believing that my gender would stand in the way of doing anything I wanted.

The fact I'm the third female Prime Minister, I never grew up believing my gender would stand in the way of doing anything I wanted.

Back in the early days of my political career, I was called Socialist Cindy. I just hate the nickname Cindy.

I always thought I'd make a good parent, but I was single and led a solitary life for many, many years. Then I met David, and he had experience with kids and wanted to have a family, too.

I remember when I was 33 or 34, it was devastating because I realized I wasn't a kid anymore. The great thing about 40 was that I really felt like I had life experience and knew what I was doing now.

If my 18-year-old daughter asked me whether she should lead a truth-hunting, artistic, uncompromising life as I have done, I'd say no, don't do it. It's a difficult and lonely path for a woman.

As our knees and hips and eyesight deteriorate, we become more dependable, less impulsive, kinder, and less moody. Psychologists call this the maturity principle. My own life experience fits this principle to a T.